Saturday, February 16, 2013

Al Fresco Tea

I am actually drinking a cup of hot tea as I type. I have especially enjoyed hot tea this winter more than ever. Trying different teas has been fun. What is your favorite kind of tea?
I have been intrigued by the English custom of having daily tea recently watching Downton Abbey and Upstairs Downstairs on Masterpiece Theatre. It has been interesting doing a little research which I plan to share on a future post.

I bought these sweet tea napkins at an estate sale recently. They were lovingly ironed and folded and penned together with safety pins. It was the sweetest estate sale I have ever seen. Everything was so neat and a great deal of work was evident. I did not personally know the lady whose home contents were being sold but several of my friends fondly remember her as one of their elementary teachers. She decided to move closer to her children and sell things she or her family members did not need.

She was not present at the sale but her sweet spirit was. I also bought an enamel pan, silver candelabra, some books and another set of solid linen tea napkins.

I would love to have tea with all of you reading this post.

Metawa Pewter ~ Holland

Barouther Walosassem, Bavaria GERMANY

This tea set has eight cups and belonged to my mother-in-law. She gave it to me recently and I was thrilled. I believe she bought it on a trip to Germany in the 70's.

20 comments:

That is a beautiful tea set! I don't believe I've ever seen one quite like it. I enjoy hot tea every now and then. My 19 yr old son actually likes hot green tea. He drinks it almost every day. He likes the health benefits of it.

I'm drooling over your gorgeous tea set and tea cups! I drink green tea every day now, as it cuts fat and not in a pretty setting, but just in a mug, lol... I gave up coffee for Lent, so, I am having flavor teas now too. I'd love to have tea with you right now! Enjoy the weekend.FABBY

Wow -- this is an amazing tea set!!! I've never seen tea cups like this before, but boy do I love them! They're just gorgeous! I would certainly love to have tea with you anytime. :) I also love your sweet linen napkins -- something I can't seem to get enough of. The ones I find are always rather pricey, so I don't seem to buy them often.

My favorite kinds of tea are Fortnum and Mason's Royal Blend (yum) and Irish Breakfast Tea. What is your favorite?

Thanks for visiting my blog, Bonnie and yes, I do have more England pictures. :) I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!

Oh, Bonnie! I'm gonna get you!! I had JUST put on my facial masque and come in here to my office to let it set for the 15 minutes it's supposed to. Then I started reading this post and the tears started coming out of my eyeballs....I have green goop all over my deskfront and robe!!! I can just imagine this lady deciding what to take, what not to take, then getting the things all ready for sale. Just makes me well up! Such pretty, pretty things! I LOVE your pewter set, too! Oh, my goodness, that's gorgeous! Really makes taking tea special, I'll bet! What a nice gift from your mother-in-law!!! Beautiful post! I wish the lady well.

Hi Bonnie, what lovely things you bought from the sweet lady's estate sale. I loved that you felt her presence and how wonderful that you will appreciate and care for her treasures. I wish I could join you for tea, too. Wouldn't that be the best? The tea cups from our dear MIL are making me sigh!! Aren't they gorgeous?? She must know that you will lovingly care for them, too.

Hi Bonnie, I wish I were sitting and sipping tea with you too. Although I'm really not a lover of hot tea I do like to set a tea table and have friends and family for tea and coffee. Your tea set is such a treasure, it's very beautiful. Since it was gifted to you from your Mother-in-law makes it even more special. I'm loving the photos in your header!Enjoy your evening.

Hi pretty Bonnie...I'm swooning!! The teacups form your Mil are gorgeous and so uinique, each one different, wow!! Thanks for those lovely and kind comments for both my posts. I'm not eating any sweets lately, but I will make the madeleines just to see how they come our in the proper pan...hubs will eat them, lol.. The cloches were fun to do, I never plan much, it just comes to mind that minute and I start to see how itcomes up! I love the cloche parties, they're such fun. Marty will have one for Spring too. Hope to see you there! Big hugs,FABBY

Hi Bonnie! Thanks for sharing about the estate sale that you went to...it really does sound lovely...I know you will take good care of the teacher's treasure. I can't wait to hear about tea traditions. Hey, I feel very much the same way you do about blogging.

I too am a tea drinker! I have enjoyed trying new kinds as well. On a trip to San Francisco, Jeff and I enjoyed several different Asian teas and I especially enjoyed the teapots. I am looking forward to your posts about tea. Love all the china of course!! I'll think of you this afternoon as I enjoy a cup. Love to you - Denise

What a beautiful tea set Bonnie, I've never seen anything like it! I love your sweet estate sale napkins too! I drink more tea in the winter months than any other time, white and green as a rule. I picked a couple of new varieties when I was at World Market last time, an herbal Chocolate Chai which sounds strange but it was wonderful.

Your tea set is outstanding! I have some lenox teacups that fit in silver holders, but they don't hold a candle to these. I think that I'll go fix myself a cup of tea right now! Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

What a stunning and beautiful tea set. I love the tea napkins. They are so delicate. I too watch all those beautiful masterpiece shows. Espeacilly Downton Abbey. I can't help but be inspired. Thank you for sharing your beautiful post.

Bonnie - I have never seen pattern cups in silver holders before now. All of the ones I have seen previously have been plain - like the ivory Lenox china ones. These are stunning - how fortunate you are to be the next "keeper" of these special pieces. Love those sweet napkins and I think you should invite us all for tea. I would join you any time.

Bonnie, finally had a chance to see all of your Feb. posts - just lovely!! Loved your pewter tea set - have not seen cup holders like that! I have lots of tea napkins, too, from all the grandmothers - so pretty, but quite a pain to wash, starch, and press after each use. I do wish the traditional "tea" would come back into fashion. Love that "English tradition"!(Have gotten "hooked" on Downton Abby, too.) Love pretty tea cups. I have my mother's collection. Didn't know you were in Williamsburg recently - we were there in the Fall - one of my favorite places to go.Love love Monticello, too. Enjoy your blog so much - we seem to love the same things. (I should have been born 100 years ago - I am NOT a modern woman!) Sorry this is so long-I'm always guilty of being too "wordy". Maxine